Guillain Barre Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Guillain Barre Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Acute Immune-Mediated Polyneuropathy
GBS
Post-Infective Polyneuritis
Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Acute Inflammatory Neuropathy
Acute Inflammatory Polyneuropathy
Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
Landry's Ascending Paralysis
Acute Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy
Landry-Guillain-Barre-Strohl Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

Miller-Fisher Syndrome
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy
Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy
Acute Motor Neuropathy with Conduction Block
Multifocal Motor Neuropathy
Multifocal Motor Sensory Demyelinating Neuropathy

General Discussion

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare, rapidly progressive disorder that consists of inflammation of the nerves (polyneuritis) and, usually causing muscle weakness, sometimes progressing to complete paralysis. Although the precise cause of GBS is unknown, a viral or respiratory infection precedes the onset of the syndrome in about half of the cases. This has led to the theory that GBS may be an autoimmune disease (caused by the body's own immune system). Damage to the covering of nerve cells (myelin) and nerve axons (the extension of the nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the nerve cell body) results in delayed nerve signal transmission. There is a corresponding weakness in the muscles that are supplied by the damaged nerves.

The following variants of GBS (acute inflammatory neuropathy or acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy) are recognized: Miller Fisher syndrome, acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy, acute motor axonal neuropathy.

Resources

GBS/CIDP Foundation International
The Holly Building
104 1/2 Forrest Avenue
Narberth, PA 19072
USA
Tel: (610)667-0131
Fax: (610)667-7036
Tel: (866)224-3301
Email: info@gbs-cidp.org
Internet: http://www.gbs-cidp.org

National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias
410 East Main Street
PO Box 114
Mascoutah, IL 62258-0114
Tel: (618)566-2020
Fax: (618)566-4718
Email: info@nfed.org
Internet: http://www.nfed.org

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Email: me20t@nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Support Group
Lincolnshire County Council Offices
Eastgate
Sleaford
Lincolnshire, Intl NG34 7EB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1529 304615
Fax: +44 1529 304615
Tel: 0800 374803
Email: admin@gbs.org.uk
Internet: http://www.gbs.org.uk

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A
Short Hills, NJ 07078
USA
Tel: (973)379-2690
Fax: (973)912-9433
Tel: (800)225-0292
Email: prc@ChristopherReeve.org
Internet: http://www.christopherreeve.org

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation of Canada, Inc.
PO Box 42016
2852 John Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 5R0
Canada
Tel: 905-640-0073
Fax: 905-640-9815
Email: keast@sprint.ca
Internet: http://www.gbs-cidp.org or http://www.gbs-cidp.org/Canada.htm

Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
5841 South Maryland Ave, MC 2030
Chicago, IL 60637
Tel: (773)702-5800
Fax: (773)702-5577
Internet: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu

Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)664-9259
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Bodo Grimbacher (ESID Board Member)
Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg
Hugstetter Strasse 55
Freiburg, D-79106
Germany
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

AutoImmunity Community
Tel: (919) 552-9057
Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 11/14/2008
Copyright 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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